Method of determining compatibility of tool and worksheet in a sheet fabrication machine and system therefor

Abstract

To determine whether a tool may be used successfully to fabricate a worksheet in a sheet fabrication machine, data relating to all tools that may be used for the machine as provided by the manufacturers of those tools are stored in a tool database. Dimensional data and characteristics of the worksheets that may be used by the machine are stored in a worksheet database. When a given worksheet is to be fabricated, a determination is made on whether a tool is usable for fabricating that worksheet without causing possible damage to the worksheet, the tool and its die, and / or the machine. The grind life remaining for the tool is used to determine whether the proper clearance between the tool and its die is obtainable by using the tool on the given worksheet. If it is determined that the tool is not useable for a given worksheet, the tool is flagged and reserved for use on worksheets that have a material thickness that is thinner than that of the given worksheet. An appropriate tool that does provide the proper clearance and has the appropriate grind life remaining is then selected for working on the given worksheet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to processes in a sheet fabrication environment and more particularly relates to a process and a system therefor of determining whether a tool has sufficient grind life for fabricating any given worksheet.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In a sheet fabrication environment, worksheets of different dimensions are fabricated at sheet fabrication machines by different types of tools into myriad shapes and forms. A plurality of tools of different styles and sizes are used on the different types of worksheets. There are moreover a number of different manufacturers that manufacture the different types and styles of tools for the different sheet fabrication machines. Oftentimes, for a particular sheet fabrication machine, for example a turret punch press, different tools are used on a particular worksheet or different worksheets, which may have different dimensions, hardness and thickness.[0003]For the different types of tools, which...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The system reduces tool replacement costs and potential damage by ensuring appropriate tool selection based on worksheet characteristics, extending tool life by reassigning tools with remaining grind life to thinner or less demanding tasks.

Problems solved by technology

Where a tool has been grounded too close to the end of its grind life, it may not be a good idea to use that tool for thicker worksheets.

For if the tool were to be used to fabricate a worksheet having a thickness that is greater than what the tool is capable of punching, not only will the tool not penetrate the worksheet, the thickness of the material would cause the tool to bottom into itself so that it would damage its tool holder, or in a worst case scenario causing substantial damage to both the tool holder and the machine.

Since tools are expensive and a great number of tools may be used for a given period, there is a lot of waste, both in terms of the scrapping of tools that continue to have good grind lives, and the expense of having the operator frequently replacing the tools.

The cost for replacing tools annually for a sheet fabrication machine oftentimes may be in excess of $50,000.

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